Heading into Friday’s match at PPL Park, former Philadelphia Union midfielder Gabriel Farfan knew the build up to the match would draw attention to his first return to the club that saw the Southern California native make his Major League Soccer debit in 2010.

Farfan was acquired by Chivas USA in may via trade and handled his return visit to the City of Brotherly love just as he does out on the pitch – cool, calm and focused. Aside from appearing in 51 matches with the Union, Farfan was facing his twin brother Michael for the first time in an official match.

The Goats went from leading one-nil in the second half to watching as the home side pulled away with three unanswered tallies. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old said after the match that he could not help but let the emotion of the match be felt.

“It was good,” said Farfan, who made his eight start for Chivas. “It has been a while since I’ve been this anxious to play a game. It was all that I thought it was going to be. Cruising up to the stadium, it felt like a home game, like I was coming back home. Unfortunately we didn’t get the result. It was a tough match.”

Despite feeling a bit nostalgic in the city that saw him develop as professional, Farfan is where he yearned to be – back in his native SoCal. And with the help of Head Coach Jose Luis Real, the San Diego-born midfielder says he is confident that his new club will continue to turn things around and continue get positive results.

Asked after the match what it meant to be able to play in Southern California again, Farfan responded by saying the move has been amazing.

“That’s my home. I feel extremely comfortable there. The organization has made me feel extremely comfortable. I’m really glad to be going home after this road trip. With our new coach I feel like we’re a lot more organized. We have a clear concept of the way the coach wants us to play. I think we’re executing pretty well.”